Greenville, South Carolina - As a newly created public foundation, Alpha Phi Alpha Greenville Foundation, Inc. (AGF) is sponsoring several worthy efforts in the local community. With their new slogan, "Covering the Upstate with service, scholarship, and mentorship", the foundation was established in 2012 as a public 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempted organization in the State of South Carolina.

Its mission is to aid community's youth, poor or disadvantaged toward a life of self-sufficiency. The Foundation serves the Upstate area of South Carolina, and is affiliated with the Gamma Gamma Lambda Chapter of ΑΦΑ in Greenville, South Carolina.

The Foundation already has a list of worthy efforts which have been long established in the Greenville Community. Those events include the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Gala, the Luke H. Chatman Scholarship, the MLK Youth Program & Rudolph G. Gordon College Fair, the Robert W. Anderson Golf Charity Tournament, the Joseph Vaughan Oratorical Competition and Upstate Project Alpha Seminars for Young Men.

Although the events are not solely sponsored by the foundation, "the foundation plays a key role in the funding and coordination of these efforts - a role we hope to expand in the future", says Keith Barksdale, AGF President. "We have great key partners with many of our efforts ranging from Furman University, General Electric, the March of Dimes, Greenville County School District and, of course, our affiliated partner, Gamma Gamma Lambda Chapter."

"We are very proud to be affiliated with this foundation. This joint effort will help us all achieve a larger and more meaningful result for the efforts we co-sponsor. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the foundation and expanding the role it plays", says GGL President Travis C. Smith.

One of the more successful programs is the 34th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Gala which annually presents the Martin Luther King Citizenship Award to a local leader who exemplifies the ideals that Dr. King championed during his life. This year's award winner, Dr. Phinnize Fisher will receive the award at the 2013 MLK Scholarship Gala on Sunday, January 6, 2013 at Furman University's Younts Conference Center at 3 PM. The event also recognizes Dr. King's legacy and is a part of an larger annual celebration held at Furman University along with our MLK Youth Program and Gordon College Fair in February.